Truck bolster



K. R. HAMMERSTROM Nov. 30 1943.

TRUCK BOLSTER Filed May 4, 1942 m 1 a .m m M m 9 ,T Q Wm N m m s w d m- MN R RA N QNN a K; aw W NM v Patented Nov. 30, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRUCK BOLSTER Application May .4, 1942 Serial No. 441,699

3 Claims.

This invention relates to bolsters and particularly to an improved reinforced bolster for railway car trucks and the method of making the same.

Truck bolsters as now used are generally made from cast steel in the form of a hollow girder. In order to obtain 'a bolster which is both economical and possesses the necessary strength and weight it is important that the side plates be positioned as far apart as possible within the space available. However, if the plates are spaced a relatively great distance apart the top and bottom plates will tend to buckle when the bolster is in use if these plates are not r-einforced. In a number of bolsters as suggested and used, the bottom plate is curved or formedso that the section at the .center is of a greater depth than that at the ends. When under the tension induced by bending of the bolster, the transverse horizontal bottom wall assumes a position lying on the shortest line between center and end of the bolster, causing a transverse buckling action unless restrained by suitable .reinforcements.

Various methods have been suggested and used for reinforcing these plates but most of these have been unsatisfactory for the reason that they increased materially the weight of the bolster. In some instances the thickness of plates was increased and in other cases an .ex-

cessive number of reinforcing plates are employed to obtain the necessary strength, thereby making the bolster expensive and relatively heavy in its construction.

Accordingly, it is one of the objects of my instresses produced by the vertical load are uniformly distributed throughout the bolster.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an improved truck bolster which is made of a minimum number of parts positioned in such a way so as to reduce buckling to minimum and at the same time saving weight without the sacrifice of strength in the structure, and to an improved method of assembling and welding the plates and parts of the bolster to each other.

Various other objects and advantages of this invention will become more apparent during the course of the following specification and will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing there are shown for the purpose of illustration, several embodiments which my invention may assume in practice.

In this drawing:

Fig. 1 is a plan view partly in section of th improved truck bolster of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the bolster partly in section;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View taken on line IIIIII of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Fi 1;

Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified construction of the bolster of my invention; and

Fig. 6 is a horizontal section through the center portion of the bolster showing the modified construction as shown in Fig. 5.

more particularly to the drawing, the improved truck bolster of my invention oomprises a pair of spaced apart polygonal-shaped side plates 2, a top plate 3 which is welded to the upper edges of the side plates, a bottom plate t which is welded to the lower edges of the side plates and end plates 5 which are welded to the outer end portions of the side, bottom and top plates so as to provide an enclosed longitudinally extending box-like structure. The bottom plate 4 is preferably formed so as to provide a flat or curved central portion 6 and upwardly extending or angularly arranged. side portions '7 to either side of the central portion which terminate in fiat or horizontal end portions as shown in Fig. '2 of the drawing. The longitudinally extending inner edges of the bottom plate 4 are preferably relieved as at 3 and the lower edges of the side plates 2 are disposed in the relieved portions 8 as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing, with the side plates being securely welded to the bottom plate i at the relieved portions thereof preferably at the bottom edges of the side plates. Such a construction permits the side plates to be spaced as far apart as possible within the space provided. It will thus be seen that the bottom plate l acts as a shelf for the support of the side plates 2 and the Welds at the bottom thereof. The relieved portion 8 may be omitted by making the bottom plate 4 with square edges and of the same width as the distance between plates 2, but this construction would not lend itself so readily for automatic welding. The top plate 3 may be constructed in the same manner as the bottom plate but it is preferable that the top plate have a greater width than the bottom plate but substantially the same cross sectional area thereof. The top plate is preferably wider than the bottom plate so as to provide sufficient support for the side bearing and center plate without supplying extra supporting means therefor.

Within the bolster at centerthere is positioned a vertically extending plate 9. This plate is positioned centrally between the side plates 2 substantially parallel thereto and extends between and ends thereof abut the top and bottom plates to which they are securely welded. The plate '9 extends beyond the length of the curved or flat central portion 6 of the bottom plate 4 and terminates at a spaced point to either side of the center of the bolster as shown in Figs. land 2 of the drawing.

The top edge of the plate 9 is cut away centrally thereof so as to provide an opening or recess I therein which extends from the top edge of the plate to a point intermediate the height thereof. There is disposed within the opening at the lower side thereof centrally of the plate 9, a horizontally extending, reinforcing plate member l2 which is disposed between and substantially parallel to the top and bottom plates. This plate extends between and the ends thereof abut the side plates 2 to which they are recurely welded. There is also mounted in the opening IU of the plate 9, a king pin supporting and guide member l3 which is preferably cylindrically shaped and formed preferably of a piece of pipe so as to provide a guide for the king pin of a car body. Both the horizontally extending plate I2 and the king pin guide member l3 are welded to each other and to the plate 9 along the edges of the opening !9 therein.

At each end of the plate 9 there is positioned a cross reinforcing member !4 which is securely welded to the ends of the plate 9 and extends substantially perpendicular thereto. The reinforcing members M are arranged centrally between the top and bottom plate and extend between the side plates 2 with the ends thereof abutting the side plates to which they are securely welded. In the top plate 3 centrally thereof there is arranged an opening l5 which is disposed directly opposite the upper end of the king pin guide member l3. Around the hole on top of the top plate 2 there is arranged a center plate it which is securely welded to the upper surface of the top plate. It will be seen that the king pin guide member l3 which is also welded to top late 3 assists in supporting the load transmitted through the center plate.

To each side of the center portion of the top plate and the center plate Hi, there is arranged a side bearing supporting or housing member 7 for supporting the side bearings of the bolster. The supporting members I! consist preferably of a plurality of plates which are welded together and to the upper surface of the top plate 3. so as to provide an open rectangularshaped housing. There is arranged within each of the housing or supporting members ii a bearing which consists preferably of roller race l8 and rollers I9. Within the bolster below each of the side bearing supporting or housing members I! there is arranged a vertically extending reinforcing plate which is disposed substantially centrally between the side plates 2 and 5 substantially parallel thereto. The plates 20 are positioned directly opposite the ends of the plate 9 at a spaced distance therefrom and substantially in alignment therewith and extend between the top and bottom plates to which the 10 ends of the same are securely welded.

It will be understood that it is the purpose of the plate 9 to reinforce the center portion of the 'top and bottom plates. The plate 9 will prevent the buckling of the top plate 3 and also prevent l5 the bottom plate 4 from tending to straighten or from dishing upwardly between the side plates 2.

The horizontally extending plates l2 and I4 will prevent the center portion of the side plates 2 and center reinforcing plate 9 from buckling. It 20 will be seen that the reinforcement of the bolster at the side bearings by providing plates 20 which are disposed on the longitudinal center line of the bolster prevents buckling of the plates, particularly the bottom plate. It will be understood that the plates 20 at their connection with plate 4 extend beyond the radius between the flat end portion and the angularly-arranged portion I of the bottom plate 4 so that the bottom plate is reinforced at the bent portions therein whereby greater resistance to downward buckling of the bottom plate between side plates 2 is provided at these points.

At each end of the bolster and on each side thereof there is arranged preferably a bolster guide member 2| which is securely welded to the outer sides of the side plates 2. It is the purpose of these guide members to guide the bolster in its vertical movement upon the truck. There is preferably arranged in the bottom plate 4 adjacent each end thereof a pair of holes 22 for holding the supporting spring group (not shown) of the truck in alignment.

The bolster of the present invention is made preferably by first welding together the plates 9, l2 and I4 and the king pin guide member l3 so as to provide an integral unit. The side plates 2, the top plate 3 and the bottom plate 4 are positioned around the unit and welded to each other and to the plates and king pin guide member of the unit. This unit in addition to being a support for the center plate I6 and the central portion of the top plate 3 provides substantial resistance to the natural upward buckling of the bottom plate 4 and buckling of the side plates 2, thereby increasing the ultimate strength of the bolster. There is arranged in the side plates 2 preferably a pair of slotted openings 24 so a to facilitate the welding of the plate 9 to the top plate 3 after the side plates and bottom plate have been welded to the unit and to each other. The welding of plate 9 to the top plate 3 may also be made by providing a slot in plate 3 directly above plate 9.

In Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawing there is shown a slight modification of the truck bolster of the present invention. This construction is substan tially the same as the preferred construction as hereinbefore descsribed but in addition there is provided a vertically extending plate 22a arranged on each side of the king pin guide member l3. The plates 22a extend between the king pin guide member [3 and their respective side plates 2 and they are securely welded to the king pin guide member and to the inner sides of their respective side plates. The lower edges of the plates 22a rest upon the horizontally extending reinforcing plate l2 to which the lower edges are welded. There is preferably arranged in the bottom plate 4 to each side of the plate 9 preferably a hole 23 for the purpose of draining any water from the bolster that might collect therein.

As a result of my invention it will be seen that there is provided a bolster made of rolled steel plates which are welded together to form a strong and rugged construction having all the requirements of a good bolster. It will be seen that there is provided a bolster which is simple and inexpensive in its design and a bolster which is made from commercial steel plates of a minimum weight consistent with maximum strength having a simplified and improved arrangement of the interior reinforcing plate members. It will be noted that there is no welding across the line of stresses in the bottom plate 4 between the end supports 22 of the bolster.

While I have shown and described one specific embodiment of my invention and a modification thereof, it will be understood that these embodiments are merely for the purpose of illustration and description and that various other forms may be devised within the scope of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A bolster of the class described, comprising a pair of spaced apart side plates, a bottom plate welded to said side plates adjacent the lower edges thereof, a top plate welded to the upper edges of said side plates so as to provide a longitudinally extending box-like structure, a longitudinally extending plate arranged directly in the center of said bolster and centrally between said side plates and substantially parallel thereto, said longitudinally extending plate extending from the bottom plate to the top plate to which plates it is securely welded and having a portion thereof removed from the top edge thereof to a point intermediate the height of the same so as to provide an opening therein, a center plate arranged upon said top plate, a king pin guide member arranged in the opening in said longitudinally extending plate. said king pin guide member having a hole vertically arranged therein for receiving the king pin of a car body, and a plate arranged to each side of the king pin supporting and guide member and extending between the same and the respective side plates, said plates being securely welded to the king pin supporting and guide member and to their respective side plates so as to strengthen the central port on of the bolster.

2. A bolster of the class described, comprising a pair of spaced apart side plates, a bottom plate welded to said side plates adjacent the lower edges thereof, a top plate welded to the upper edges of said side plates so as to provide a longitudinally extending box-like structure, a. relatively short longitudinally extending plate arranged directly in the center of said bolster and centrally between said side plates and substantially parallel thereto with the ends thereof terminating at a spaced distance from the ends of the bolster, said relatively short longitudinally extending plate extending from the bottom plate to the top plate to which plates it is securely welded and having a portion thereof removed from the top edge thereof to a point intermediate the height of the same so as to provide an opening therein, a center plate arranged upon said top plate, a king pin guide member arranged in the opening in said longitudinally extending plate, said king pin guide member having a hole vertically arranged therein for receiving the king pin of a car body, and a cross reinforcing plate securely welded to each end of the longitudinally extending plate intermediate the length of the bolster and disposed substantially perpendicular to said plate, said cross plate extending between the side plates against which the ends thereof abut and to which the ends are securely welded.

3. A bolster of the class described comprising a pair of spaced apart side plates, a top plate welded to the upper edges of said side plates, a bottom plate welded to said side plates adjacent the lower edges thereof so as to provide a longitudinally extending box-like structure, said bottom plate having a central portion which extends below the remainder of the plate with the portions to either side thereof extending angularly upwardly and terminating in substantially flator horizontally disposed end portions, a center plate positioned on the upper surface of said top plate centrally thereof, a vertically disposed plate member extending between the top and bottom plates to which plates it is securely welded, centrally between said side plates for reinforcing said top and bottom plates and to prevent the same from buckling, said vertically disposed plate extending longitudinally of the bolster substantially parallel to said side plates and terminating at a point to either side of the central portion of the bottom plate in the angularly arranged portions thereof, means arranged in said vertically disposed plate centrally thereof for receiving a king pin supporting and guide member, transverse members extending between said vertically disposed plate member and the side plates substantially perpendicular thereto and to which they are securely welded so as to prevent said vertically disposed plate and said side plates from buckling. a side bearing supporting member arranged on the upper surface of said top plate to either side of the center thereof at a point intermediate the distance between the center of the bolster and each end thereof, and a vertically disposed plate member extending between the top and bottom plates to which it is securely welded centrally between said side plates at a point directly below each of said side bearing supporting members, each of said last mentioned plates arranged longitudinally of the bolster substantially parallel to said side plates and extending over the junction of the angularly arranged portion with the flat end portion of the bottom plate so as to prevent failure and buckling of both the top and bottom plates at these points.

KARL R. I-IAMMERSTROM. 

